ISPR PRESS RELEASE

Rawalpindi, 17 August 2018: Chief of Army Staff, General Qamar Javed Bajwa (COAS) expresses deep concern on the recent surge in violence inside Afghanistan and loss of precious innocent lives. COAS reiterates that there is no support for any terrorist activity inside Afghanistan from Pakistan side. The alleged return of injured / dead terrorists from Ghazni is incorrect. However, there are scores of Pakistanis working in Afghanistan in connection with various businesses/ labor who periodically fall victim to terrorism acts alongside their Afghan brothers inside Afghanistan. Terming such victims as terrorists are unfortunate. Moreover, different factions of TTP, hiding in many sanctuaries inside Afghanistan under Afghan identities on becoming injured/ dead are transported into Pakistan for medical help. Additionally, Afghan refugees and their relatives also resort to similar practices.
COAS stands by his commitment to Afghan President for ensuring all measures which could facilitate peace in Afghanistan. However, COAS re-emphasizes that Afghanistan needs to look inward as the problem resides inside Afghanistan. The solution thus remains on making substantive progress on Afghan reconciliation efforts as well as on the speedy implementation of Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Stability (APAPPS).

Pakistan continues to support all initiatives aimed at bringing peace in Afghanistan as there cannot be enduring peace in Pakistan and stability in the region if there is no peace in Afghanistan.